Jim Yates Hopes to Thrive in Hot Conditions at Southern Nationals
Virginia Pro Stock Driver Sixth Going into Busy Part of NHRA Schedule
COMMERCE, Ga. - The 2005 POWERade Series schedule is little more than
one-quarter finished and Jim Yates...

COMMERCE, Ga. - The 2005 POWERade Series schedule is little more than
one-quarter finished and Jim Yates feels like he's just getting started.

Yates finds himself sixth after six of 23 events. His 315 Pro Stock
points put him one behind fifth place and a mere 64 behind No. 3 in a
championship race that's beginning to heat up like the upcoming weather
on a streak of six races in seven weeks.

"I think we've seen all the different weather combinations this year that
we usually see," the Occoquan, Va.-based driver said. "We haven't had an
opportunity to test our B&W Pontiac as much as we normally would, but
we're getting used to what engine combinations and car combinations the
car likes.

"We're looking at the season as a four-quarter game, and this is only the
second quarter. So far, we've been the most improved team this year and
that's exciting for us. We want to leverage that excitement to our
overall performance."

Yates, the 1996-97 NHRA Pro Stock champion, has won twice and finished
second once at Atlanta Dragway.

With hot weather forecast, Yates expects racing conditions here to be
similar to those in Bristol, Tenn., May 1.

"And we believe we'll be using a similar racing combination the next
weekend at Columbus (May 22)," he said. "That should give us an
opportunity to shine."

The third of three races in a row - Topeka, Kan., May 29 - may follow the
same pattern.

Stops in Chicago, Englishtown, N.J., and St. Louis complete the busiest
part of this year's schedule. And, if form holds, the latter two races
could be run in the same slippery conditions Yates favors.